Struck Love

Thank goodness. The last thing I need is an interrogation. I can hold out most times but not for long. I hate to lie, but sometimes a little white lie is needed. Especially when you have two older brothers that are overprotective.

“You lost your keys, kiddo?” I roll my eyes at him. I’m thankful he was the one that answered instead of my older brother Bryce. Ben is a little more easygoing. Which isn’t saying much because they are both overbearing.

“Don’t call me that.” I hold out my hand for him to give me my spare set. We all keep spares in my dad's office. “I know where they are. I just forgot my bag last night.”

“Forgot your bag.” He drops the keys into my hand. “And where did you forget this bag?” Here we go. I should’ve told him I lost them or that Thor buried them somewhere.

“I don't have to answer questions like that anymore.” I smirk at him. I’m no longer a kid. No matter what they think.

“We’ll see about that at dinner tonight.” He smirks right back.

“Then we’ll see about me making peach cobbler.” I put my hands on my hips.

“That’s mean, sis.” He shakes his head like he’s truly hurt.

“Y’all find that Eddie guy yet?” I ask.

Ben’s face grows serious. “You don’t need to be worried about shit like that.”

“I work for Hart Bonds too,” I remind him. “That’s a hundred grand hit the company would take if we don’t find him.” It wouldn't bankrupt us or anything, but still. That’s a giant loss. Not to mention a hit to our reputation. We’re known as being the best. I’m not even my brother, and that bothers my ego.

He lets out a long breath. “We’ll handle it.”

“The hell, Benny. This is bullshit.”

“What the hell, Olivia?” I glare at him. He glares right back, hating when I call him Benny as much as I hate being called Olivia. It sounds extra girly. I mean, I’m girly sometimes, but I try not to be when I want to measure up to my brothers, but it’s hard. Pink and shiny things get me every dang time.

“Ben.”

“I get it. I promise, sis. This one is different. You know if something ever happened to you it would kill us.”

I soften. “I know.” I fold like a chair when it comes to the Hart men.

“Vee okay?” He nods to the trailer.

“Yeah.”

“You talk her into moving in with you and Dad yet?”

“I’m trying.” Now I’m done for. Any irritation I was feeling is gone. It annoys me when they go all big brother on me, but I enjoy it when they do it to Vee. She needs us. Everyone needs a family.

“See you tonight.”

“Love you,” I toss over my shoulder, heading for my car.

“Love you, too,” he says before he pulls back out onto the main road.

I wait before I follow him out, planning to drive by the Ravens Club. I’m hoping by the time I get there I grow the balls to park and then knock on the door and demand my purse back. The drive is short. I pull into the parking lot and take a look around. There are motorcycles and trucks parked all over.

I know it’s not only a motorcycle club, but it’s a part of the Adair Mines. We all grew up knowing about the Adair Mines after they’d struck gold. It had been a big story, and a lot of people went digging to see if they could find their own treasure. Even Vee’s grandfather had. I’d been a teen when it happened. Silver Springs isn’t a tiny city, but it isn’t giant either. Everyone might not know everyone, but gossip still travels pretty freaking far.

Some people said it was all bullshit. That they actually dealt in drugs and to account for their money they pretended they found gold. It’s stupid, but people love to make up stories. I’d all but forgotten about the rumor until now. I take one last look around, knowing it’s now or never. Needless to say, I chicken out and head back home.

I go about my day the best I can, trying to get lost in cooking dinner for everyone. As much as I love working with my family, this is my favorite thing to do. My dad and brothers have always watched out for me, and I know they always will. This is the least I can do to take care of them.

The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve noticed how I enjoy watching out for them, whether it be making everyone dinner, packing them lunches, or going over to my brothers’ places to organize their lives to a degree. I can’t help myself.

My mind drifts to being a wife and doing this for my own family one day. “What the hell!” I squeak when my mind fills Jason in the role of my husband. The thought blindsided me. He looks as though he’s the kind of man that breaks girls' hearts. I don’t think men in that lifestyle settle down. If they do it’s in one of those open relationships. I’m surprised when a sudden feeling of anger rises within me at the thought of Jason being with someone else.